When you think of holiday cheer, you probably think of lights, decor, and tons of adorable jingle bells! And… if you’re in the ATL, we’ll bet you also think of our adorable German storybook village, Helen, Georgia, when it comes to the holiday season. No one does the holidays quite like Helen! And now it’s official: Helen, GA is one of the most festive neighborhoods in the entire country! Keep scrolling to learn more.
Where does Helen rank on the list of most festive neigbhorhoods?
Helen comes in at #7, just below Boothbay, Maine.
Here’s how the top 5 ‘most festive neighborhoods’ list goes:
- Clarkston, Michigan
- Clifton, Ohio
- McAdenville, North Carolina
- Bernville, Pennsylvania
- Middleburg, Virginia
All of these small towns really pack a punch when it comes to festive holiday cheer! And we’re thrilled that Helen made the list.
Why Helen?
One glance at Helen’s adorable gingerbread downtown, and you’ll see why it’s one of the most festive in the country. But it actually goes deeper than just the lights and decor!
Since 1969, Helen has completely transformed into an Alpine winter wonderland every holiday season, drawing excited visitors from across the Southeast. The charming Bavarian-style town, known for its festive spirit and cozy mountain backdrop, lights up with its famous Christmas in Helen celebration. The season features dazzling parades, twinkling shopfronts, and the Christkindlmarkt—an open-air German market filled with handcrafted gifts, treats, and old-world charm. Visitors can wander the decorated streets, sip hot cocoa by the Chattahoochee River, and soak in the magical Alpine glow that has made Helen one of Georgia’s most iconic holiday destinations.
How did SIXT come up with this data?
They say,
To identify the top holiday light neighborhoods in the U.S. and each state, we analyzed search volume, demand and posts related to ‘Christmas lights’ and ‘holiday lights’ across Google, Google Maps, Reddit, and Instagram social media posts using KeywordTool.io. We also reviewed user-submitted displays from ChristmasLightFinder.com and TackyLightTour.com. Public nominations through our campaign page helped validate findings and uncover local favorites. Data accurate as of November 28, 2025.
And Helen shone especially bright when it came to people searching up Christmas lights across multiple U.S. cities.
So don’t sleep on Helen this holiday season!